Museum Collection

This was one of the first mechanical pieces of equipment used in the grain harvest. It cut the grain and deposited it in a row behind the driver to dry.

Little Giant Mounted Thresher 1891

This piece of equipment is over 100 years old. Grain was bundled in the field and stacked near the barn until the threshing crew came to separate the grain from the straw. Straw was blown into the barn from the thresher, and grain was put into sacks. It was powered by 1-3 tied horsepower.

Russell Steam Traction Engine 16-48 1915According to the manufacturer, this was the “Boss” of steam traction engines. This one pumped water for pasture.

Fond-Du-Lac 1917This is a tractor attachment mounted on a 1916 Model T Truck. It was one of the many attempts to make Ford autos double as tractors during the WW1 era. The cost of the attachment was about $150.

Leader 1/2 Track 1917Dayton-Dick Co. was a leader in adapting automotive components to their tractors, especially the radiator and automotive front axle.

This tractor has one crawler in front and two steerable wheels in back. Note – bottom wheel is the clutch and the top wheel is the steering wheel. It turns in a five foot radius. This tractor was powered by a 4-cylinder Le Roi engine.

Aultman Taylor 30-60 1918These were very popular tractors in road work and almost every township in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana owned one at some time. Many were sold for plowing and threshing. As with the 30-60, the band wheel turned counter clockwise, thus requiring a straight belt for threshing instead of the generally used crossed belt.

Twin City 1918This model was continued until 1929, when Minneapolis Co. merged with Moline Plow Co. and Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. to form Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Co. It was the first company to use four valves in each cylinder for tractors. Some autos have now returned to this system.

Gray Drum Drive 1918The large drum on this tractor was used for traction to by pass Caterpillar patents. The wide drum on this tractor also prevented the soil from compacting.The entire engine in this tractor slid forward or backward to speed up or reverse the tractor’s direction.

Belt Rail Single Track B 1918This tractor was built to compete with wheel tractors. The belt track allowed it to run on softer ground than wheel tractors. This one was bought in Merced, CA and is the only one in existence that we know of. This company was organized in 1917 and went out of business in 1920.

COD Wheel Tractor Model B 1919The significance of the initials COD has been lost, but it was probably named for the three stockholders Conrad, Ogard & Daniel. Few of these tractors remain. Belt pulleys ran off the flywheel to operate the oil pump, fuel pump and water pump.

Avery 6 Cylinder Model C 1919The Avery 6-cylinder tractor was a big success in practically every kind of farm work. The Avery was advertised as a high grade tractor at an attractive price, which included such accessories as a platform, seat, tool box, draw bar and an air cleaner, equipment that other small tractor makers charged extra for. Exhaust gases were piped to the rear drive gears to clean and lubricate them.

All Work II Model F 1919Electric Wheel Co. was acquired by Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. This was a lightweight tractor with a big surplus of power for general farming and orchard work. This tractor was fueled by kerosene.

Moline universal Model D 1920This tractor was advertised as the one man tractor that solved the farm help problem of the day. A 1918 quote stated “Operation of the Moline universal is so easy that a woman or a boy can handle it.”

Huber Cross Motor 1920This model turns very easy due to the large wheels in the front. This tractor was a popular early model introduced in 1917 and built until 1928.

Waterloo Boy Model N 1922This tractor is the first model produced by Deere & Co. It was also the first model to be tested in the Nebraska Field tests in 1919. The Waterloo Engine Co. sold to the John Deere Tractor Co. in March of 1918. Deere made this model until 1924.

Waterloo Separator 1925This was used for separating grain from the chaff. Bundles were brought from the field and pitched in by hand. Grain was put into sacks. The resulting straw was used in barns, or sometimes as fuel.

Imperial Super Drive 1924This is an Illinois Tractor Co. tractor which was sold by the Robert Bell Engine and Thresher Co. in Canada under the trade name of “Imperial Super-Drive”.

Hart -Parr 18-36 Model H 1929This is one of the last models manufactured by Hart-Parr before the merger with Oliver Tractor Co. The Model H used a 3-speed transmission compared to the Model G which only used a 2-speed transmission.

Oliver Hart-Parr Model 28-44 1930Manufactured from 1930 to 1937, this tractor was one of the first models made under the Oliver name. Oliver involved farmers by having a color contest at State Fairs to vote on a new model’s official color combination. Meadow green with clover trim was the winner.

Case 10-20 3 Wheel 1918Looking at the design of this tractor, right hand turns on a hill would be very dangerous!

Case Model 20-40 (with cab) 1918Equipped with a two-cylinder engine, this tractor won many honors at an early-day Winnipeg plowing contest for fuel economy.

Case 9-18 Kerosene Model B 1918A one piece main frame was used in this tractor to increase strength and decrease weight. This tractor was known as the “Case Baby”.</>The motor in this tractor was mounted crosswise. Three to four 14″ plows were recommended for use with this tractor. The Case 18-32 tractor was extremely economical in its use of fuel. More of the power developed by the engine is delivered at the draw bar than in average tractors.

Case 12-20 1922This tractor was a replacement for the old 10-20 three-wheeler. Pressed steel wheels cut down on weight and lowered production costs.

Case CO 1930This tractor was a well accepted tractor in its time. This tractor was mainly used in an almond orchard until the mid-1940s.

Cletrac F 1918This model was driven by a floating roller chain that traveled between the drive gears and the tracks. The entire track assembly runs without lubrication.The manufacturer called the Cletrac H a “tank type” tractor after the WWI land battleship. It was later called a “crawler tractor”. The Cletrac was advertised in 1921 as being used in 65 countries around the world.

Cletrac W 12-20 1920“Geared to the ground” was the slogan for this little tractor manufactured from 1919 to 1948. A Widely motor was used in this model.Some new engineering refinements advertised on this tractor were redesigned track, an instantaneous oiling system where the entire track could be oiled by pushing a plunger, and simplified track layout.

Cletrac 30 HP 1929This model was the largest tractor of the Cletrac line in 1926 and was listed until 1930.

Cletrac Diesel 80 HP 1944This tractor was a good logging tractor due to the design of the transmission, which is pulling on both tracks at all times. For turning, one track would turn at a faster rate than the other. Most crawler tractors idled one track while the other kept moving for turning.

Cummins Diesel (Old Smokey) 1944This is a home made tractor built out of old surplus tractor parts at a time when new tractors were unavailable. This tractor was gifted to Fred Heidrick by the Phil Leiser family and created by Earl Mallory.

Samson Sieve Grip Model S-25 1918GM continued to manufacture this model after they bought the company in 1917. It’s unusual wheels made it possible to grip in loose soils, such as that around Woodland, CA.

Samson Model M 1919GMC tried to compete with Ford with this model for the small tractor market. In 1915 General Motors Co. purchased Samson Iron Works of Stockton, CA, making Samson a subsidiary of GMC. Arthur Mason was the designer for the new tractor division.

Best “Humpback” 30 High Drive 1913This is the only one known to exist. It was the forerunner of the orchard tractor, but if used in orchards it would not have had a top. It used a drive gear above the independent idler wheels. This lowered the tractor by about 12 inches. It was considered one of the most popular Best models.

C. L. Best 75 1914This model by C. L. Best Co. is one of Best’s largest tractors. The Best 75 was one of the first tracklayers to utilize a power steering device with cut steel gears enclosed and run in oil. The Best 75 also featured the famous “frictionless rocker joint”.

C.L. Best D 40 HP 1916This tractor featured elimination of front pilot wheel and improved friction drive for shorter turning. It had four individual cast cylinders.

Best 25HP Model B 1918This is the smallest Best tractor built. under average conditions, the Best 25 could plow 10 acres or harrow 35 acres in 10 hour day.

Best 60HP 1919Serial number 882, this is one of the earliest of this model. This model featured elimination of chains, belts and plain bearings. Anti-friction bearings were used throughout.

Best 60 Diesel Conversion 1933This tractor is a result of taking a 1933 Caterpillar 50 diesel engine and putting it on a 1923 Best 60 running gear, enabling the farmer to use low cost diesel fuel.

Holt 45 Model B 1909Most of Holt’s tractors had one front “tiller wheel”. Those with 2 front wheels were meant for midwest use. Only two of these tractors were completed.

Holt 30 HP Front Wheel 1914used primarily in orchards and vineyards. The canopy on this tractor would have been removed for this type of work.

Holt 60 1914The Holt 60 was first Holt to be designated as a “Caterpillar gas tractor”, which became the trademark for future Holt tractors.

Holt Midget 18 1915This is the smallest tractor Holt built. The small red arrow rising from the steering gear showed the operator which way the tiller wheel was heading.

Holt 45 Muley Type 1916This was one of the first larger Holts with no front wheel. The term “Muley” was a farmers term likening a tractor without front wheels to a cow without horns.

Holt 120HP 1917The Holt 120 was built for the the military in WWI to tow artillery. Only 800 were built. This particular tactor was half way to France when the war ended. It was unloaded onto the dock in France. Two years later a uS buyer bought it and shipped it back to Los Angeles. It was used until WWII then abandoned. It is the only one of its kind left in the world, that we know of.

Holt Military 10 Ton 1917These tractors were not sold to the general public until after the war. The high mortality rate for horses during WWI is one reason why these tractors were starting sent into battle.

Holt 5 Ton “Caterpillar” 1918In addition to general farming, this model was used to move artillery across shell torn battle fields as well as long stretches of stone roads in France.

Holt Self-Propelled 16′ Wood Harvester 1918This large self-propelled harvester was the best machine of its time for larger farms. It could harvest 35 to 45 acres a day with its sixteen foot cut. The Hillside model was capable of harvesting on hills up to a 40 degree angle.

Holt T29 1923This tractor was a larger companion to the T35. It was replaced by the new 5 Ton before the merger with Best in 1925. Only five of these tractors were made. They were manufactured from 2 Ton Caterpillar and Caterpillar 20 parts. The truck rollers have Hyatt Bearings on one side and bronze on the other. This tractor was never sold but was used by Caterpillar dealers to help them sell the new Model 20 Caterpillar tractors.

Caterpillar 60 1927This model boasts many refinements when compared to the Best Sixty of 1919. Particularly noticable are the operator comforts.

Caterpillar 20 1928This tractor is part of Caterpillar’s line of gasoline tractors consisting of the 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 preceding the diesels.

Caterpillar 10 Expo 1928This was an experimental model of this tractor, painted white for display at State Fairs, etc. This tractor was first shown at the California State Fair when the new machinery hall was dedicated on September 1, 1928.

Caterpillar 30 Wide 1928The tractor was manufactured in San Leandro. CA where Caterpillars were 1925 to 1931. After that date, all Caterpillars were manufactured in Peoria, Illinois.

Caterpillar 10 Grandpa Name Tag 1928Fred Heidrick restored a Caterpillar 10 like this one for each of his eight grandsons and hung a name plate on each one. This one is for Grandpa. This is the smallest model made by Caterpillar, considered the small farmer’s tractor.

Caterpillar 10 Orchard Model 1929With this type of seat, the operator was seated lower than the standard seat, and could operate in areas with less head room as in orchards. The seat could be ordered on new tractors at no additional cost.

Caterpillar 10 1929This is the smallest model made by Caterpillar. It was manufactured from 1928 to 1931. It was considered the small farmers tractor.

Caterpillar 10 Wide 1929Spacing between track center on this model was 44 inches instead of the usual 37 inches. The design made it better suited for crop conditions, steep hills or soft ground.

Caterpillar 10 High 1929The regular 10 model could be raised with the addition of a high clearance kit for asparagus and row crop harvesting.

Caterpillar 15 New, (was old 10 1931)This model replaced the Holt 2 Ton model after the merger of Holt and Best in 1925.

This is the first Caterpillar diesel ever sold. Caterpillar became the first company to offer a diesel powered crawler tractor. This tractor was sold in Yolo County, CA. #1C1 was used as a demonstrator and sold after this tractor. #1C1 now belongs to university of California, Davis.

Caterpillar 35 Yellow Gas 1931At the time this model was manufactured, a diesel model 35 was also manufactured. The diesel was more costly to purchase, but more economical to run.

The popular diesel engine lead to Caterpillar discontinuing the production this and other gas models. This model had the lowest price per pound of any crawler on the market.(Weight 23,007 lbs,; Price $4,350)

Caterpillar 20 (old 15) 1932This model replaced the Model 15 in 1932. After Holt and Best merged, the original color of these tractors was gray. In 1932, they were offered in gray or yellow. In 1933, the standard color became yellow.

Caterpillar 25-Wide 1933This model replaced the well known Twenty. It was manufactured from 1931 to 1933. Wide tracks designed for hills and swamp land served as the base for working in wet or soft soil.

Caterpillar R-5 Dozer 1936Very few of these tractors were made and sold because diesel was taking over the market. Diesel tractors were becoming more reliable and the price of diesel fuel was much less than gasoline. This tractor was used primarily for road work.

Caterpillar 30 1939This model was a “gap filler” between the old Caterpillar 30 and the D-4 diesel. It was used by the military and used the same fuel as other army vehicles. It used an in-line four cylinder engine producing a maximum of 37.8 horsepower at 1400 rpm.

Caterpillar D-4 1939Heidrick brothers purchased this tractor new. Caterpillar changed designations in 1935, using D for diesel and Number for size.

Caterpillar D-5 1944This tractor has serial number 1 (only 43 were made). The D-5 was made for the uS Army and was not sold new to the public. Army use for the tractor required more horse power than the standard D-4 had. Caterpillar made these 43 tractors for use in a government rubber farm. They were fast and efficient. It has 6 cylinders rather than the 4 of the D-4.

Harris 24′ Giant Harvester 1920This harvester had a 24 foot cutter bar. Five people were necessary to operate it — 2 sack sewers, 1 header tender, 1 separator attendant, and 1 driver to operate the tractor which pulled the combine.

John Deere Walking Plow 1910This plow’s all steel design made it durable, long lasting and low maintenance for the farmer.

John Deere Binder 1920This is the smallest binder made by John Deere. It was able to be towed by a small tractor such as a Fordson, or light comparable tractor.

John Deere D 1924This was the first model to bear the John Deere name. It has an open spoke type flywheel. This model was produced for over 30 years. Farmers liked its simplicity and economy.

John Deere Orchard and Field Tractor 1931This tractor was built to work close to trees and under low-hanging branches without injury to the trees.

John Deere 10′ Combine 1934This tractor could be operated as a one man combine or with an operators platform. A Lycoming motor was used for the combine operation. This combine was usually pulled by medium weight tractors

John Deere Lindeman 1952A John Deere BO chassis for this model was sent to the Lindeman brothers in Yakima, Washington. They mounted these units on crawler tracks. Deere entered crawler production with a model after this one.

Wallis Model 15-27 1923Massey Harris purchased JI Case Plow Works in 1928. The most significant engineering feature was the u frame. A heavy steel plate enclosed and supported the engine, transmission and final drive. It sealed moving parts from dust and supported the mass without additional frame.

Bean Spray Rig 1925This spray rig sprayed 6 gallons per minute at 250 lbs of pressure. It was used primarily for sulfur and insecticides in orchards and vineyards to control insects. The bean sprayer’s porcelain lined cylinders would not corrode. It is powered by a two horsepower Witte engine.

International Mogul 1910This International model features a rare friction drive, instead of cog-wheel to reverse, but a conventional clutch for forward. This tractor was simply a one cylinder engine mounted on wheels, which only produced one horsepower at the draw bar.

International Slant Hood Model 8-16 1921This tractor was manufactured from 1916-1922, this was the first model to bear the International name. The radiator was placed at the back of the engine to improve visibility.

International Titan Model 10-20 1921This tractor had a closed cooling system. Hot water percolated from the engine into the high mounted water tank.

McCormick Combine 1918The Heidrick family was the original owner of this model. Altogether eighteen McCormick Combines were sold in Yolo County, CA by 1920. Other families that owned them were Blickle, Rooney, Andy Summ, Eckles, Ecstat, Hennigan, Smith, Dinsdale, Millsap and Ricci. Eight to ten horses pulled this machine.

McCormick-Deering 15-30 1921This model superseded the Titan 10-20. The manufacturer guaranteed the bearings for the life of the tractor.

McCormick-Deering 10-20 1929IHC’s first attempt at track type tractor using 10-20 wheel tractor engine and frame. This was manufactured from 1928-1931. It was replaced by their T-20 Model in 1931.

McCormick-International TD-40 1933This McCormick Deering Model TD-40 was one of the first diesel models built by International Harvester Co. This model was manufactured from 1933 to1939.

Rumely Oil Pull Model F 15-30 1910This model was designed to meet the needs of a smaller farmer and used for plowing, drilling, cultivating, harvesting, etc. It was said to “have the power of 15 good draft horses, the endurance of 50 and costs less than 10”.

Rumely Oil Pull Model 20-35 1922This was a smaller, more powerful light weight oil pull tractor. Rumely Oil Pull tractors are the only tractors which had a written guarantee to successfully burn kerosene at all loads.

Rumely Model L 1924-27Once owned by Helen Heidrick’s father, the Wild family of Woodland, CA bought this tractor for 90 sacks of barley and one load of hay.

Fordson Model F 1919This is one of the first tractors Fred Heidrick restored. Henry Ford couldn’t use “Ford Tractor” because there was already a Ford Tractor Co. in 1916, so the Fordson trademark was adopted. Each Fordson came with a canvas cover, to protect the wooden steering wheel and the wood induction coils.

Fordson Track Hadfield-Cahl Tracks 1923“Cahl” advertised their tracks for the extra pull. They made a track type tractor of the Fordson.

Fordson 10-20 1924The fenders on this model were added extra in 1924. All Fordsons came with a canvas cover. Farmers would often be in a hurry to finish the day and would throw the cover over a hot tractor and set it on fire.

Fordson-Towner Locomotor 1924This Towner attachment pulled three to four ore cars in mines around Placerville. CA. This attachment sold for $750. H. F. Towner was better known for his tillage tool business.This was known as an Armstead Snow-motor. Hauling capacity was said to be five tons. Each drum receives power from a separate clutch which, depending on the position of the steering gear, engages and disengages. It can also traverse bare ground. This machine hauled mail from Truckee to North Lake Tahoe.

Fordson Track FTA Rigid Tracks 1926This is kit made a Fordson into a track tractor. This tractor was used in a mine east of Jackson, California. The tracks cost around $735 and weighed around 2,350 lbs.

Massey-Harris General Purpose 15-22 1930Four wheel drive was good for bog spots, hillsides and even river beds. This tractor was ahead of its time in design, lightweight and four wheel drive.

Bates 1/2 Track Model D 1921Advertised as being exceedingly flexible and durable this Bates could double disc and drag up to 35 acres a day.

Bates Steel Mule 45 1930The plate on the tractor states “This tractor is licensed under Caterpillar Tractor Co. of San Leandro Patents”.

Continental Cultor 1926This tractor has a Model T Ford engine which the buyer had to furnish. It was advertised as a practical, low priced motor cultivator.

Homemade Swather 1935This swather was made by Fred and Joe Heidrick from junkyard scrap consisting of 2 long channel irons, Model T Ford differential and a STAR 4 cylinder motor attached to a 10 foot Caterpillar harvester header. This swatcher was used to open fields and for going around the outside perimeter of a field so a larger harvester could complete the harvest.

National 25 1930This tractor had a very short production history due to patents pending by Caterpillar Tractor Co. It was advertised as having extremely high clearance which was important when the tractor was used for plowing deep or working rocky or rough ground.

Allis Chalmers Monarch Neverslip 30-18 N 1918This was the largest of the early Monarch tractors. This model, with modifications, was produced until 1924, when it was replaced by an entirely new crawler tractor line. It had the motor in the rear and transmission in the front.

Allis Chalmers Wheel Model 20-35 1924Pin striping, swivel seat and axle hub covers were extra cost options on this tractor. Allis Chalmers introduced its air washer with this model. An air intake pipe fed through a cast iron water bath.The lighter Model L succeeded this heavyweight in 1932, with more power and less weight. A heavy steel plate protected the radiator, which would have been important when used in logging.

Allis Chalmers Model 50 1929Allis Chalmers purchased the Monarch Tractor Co. plant and assets in 1928. At this time, Allis Chalmers crawlers were basically a Monarch design, but within a few years a new series of Allis Chlamers would emerge.

Allis Chalmers Model L 1932This model offered five forward speeds, ranging from one to six MPH. It replaced the heavier Allis Chalmers Monarch 75. The Model L was built to meet the demand for a powerful, heavy duty, easily handled machine.

Allis Chalmers Model 35-K 1933This tractor belonged to Helen Heidrick’s father, Lloyd James, and has been in the family for 60 years. The Heidrick brothers owned the same type of tractor at the same time.

Allis Chalmers Model K Diesel 1935This is the first Allis Chalmers model to use the Hesselman Diesel Motor. This motor did not produce very satisfactory performance results

Allis Chalmers Model S 1936This model became the “SO” model with the addition of the diesel engine. Eventually, it became the Allis Chalmers HD10. This tractor was used primarily for rice farming in Northern California.

Allis Chalmers Model MMany Model M crawlers were used by the military during WWII for building roads, carving airstrips out of the jungle, or clearing the way for transport vehicles.

Yuba Ball Tread 15-25 1920The ball bearing track system made the Yuba unique. This tractor was manufactured in Marysville in Northern California. Farmers used to pay youngsters for finding ball bearings which had fallen out of the tracks as wear made them loose. They kept a can of larger ball bearings to take up the slack.